16:00 - 17:30
Location: 223 - Floor 1
Chair/s:
Natalie Struwe
Natalie Struwe - Linking Global North Donors to Local Conservation Outcomes: Reducing Wild Meat Supply Through Economic Incentives in West African Informal Restaurants.
Josie Chen - Pay Attention! Promoting Energy-Saving Goals Through Task-Based Incentives: A Field Experiment
Marta Buso - Personalised Nudges or Offsetting? A Survey Experiment that Explores How to Promote Sustainable Food Consumption
Antonio J Morales - Empowering Energy Savings Through Behavioural Insights: A University-Based Intervention
Sébastien Duchêne - Beyond the Basket: Do Socially Responsible Consumers Build Sustainable Portfolios?
Submission 157
Empowering Energy Savings Through Behavioural Insights: A University-Based Intervention
panel.3-223 - Floor 1-04
Presented by: Antonio J Morales
Antonio J Morales 1, 2, Ismael Rodríguez-Lara 1, 2, Jorge Barrios 1, Ivan Tinivella 2
1 Universidad de Malaga
2 Smart Decision Lab
In late 2022, faced with a sharp increase in electricity prices and limited short-term infrastructure options, the University of Málaga collaborated with the Smart Decision Lab to promote energy-saving habits among staff and students. We designed a low-cost, behaviourally informed intervention centered on feedback, transparency, and social comparison. Energy efficiency ratings (from A++ to D), emoticons signalling performance, and intra-university rankings were displayed on posters and screens in university buildings. QR codes offered additional information and academic references. Complementary signage encouraged daily actions such as using natural light and turning off unused equipment. Using a staggered rollout, we observed that 85% of participating centers reduced energy consumption, with an average drop of over 9% (and 12% in centers with full signage). Centers without intervention showed only a 1.2% reduction, suggesting a clear causal link. This initiative highlights the power of informational nudges and social motivation to drive sustainable behaviour in institutional settings.